Expert unenthusiastic about McCrory’s new education advisor

[1]Diane Ravitch, the nation’s leading spokesperson for preserving public education has some scathing words for the latest developments in North Carolina’s education wars. The post is entitled “North Carolina: Public Schools and Students Endangered by Radical Agenda[2]” and it lists the bills to introduce vouchers, reduce teacher due process rights, slash pre-K, and increase class sizes.

The post also includes the following less-than-ringing endorsement of Governor McCrory’s new education advisor:

“Governor Pat McCrory, who supports the radical anti-teacher, anti-public education agenda, has just named Eric Guckian as his Senior Education Advisor[3]. Guckian was regional director of New Leaders in North Carolina (which recruits ‘transformational’ leaders) and before that, was executive director of Teach for America in the state. He has been a consultant for the Gates Foundation and worked with KIPP….

Guckian joins John White in Louisiana and Kevin Huffman in Tennessee as TFA alumni in state-level positions serving reactionary administrations.”

Ravitch, as readers will know well, has been highly critical of Teach for America, Gates and KIPP.